Faye Tozer of Steps fame will admit that theirs was a particularly cringey brand of pop – but, as there was then, there is an audience for it. She talks to LAUREN MURPHY
Firstly, the big question: why reform now?
There were a lot of factors that came into it. We’d always talked about a possible 10-year reunion after we’d split, so that was always playing at the back of our minds, I guess. But it was actually purely down to the fact that Sony was going to release our greatest hits album, with or without us. And because we’d left behind quite impressive statistics and sales and what-have-you, we didn’t want them to just chuck it out and for it to fizzle out and no one to know anything about it. And that’s when we got back in contact with old management and people we’d worked with before, and tried to find out a way of making the profile of the album bigger. And that’s how the [Sky Living] TV show came about.
Several of you have had careers in musical theatre and panto since Steps ended
Yeah, but I guess even in our separate careers, the inevitable question that was always asked was “When are you reforming?” You couldn’t do an interview without being asked. So once the Sky Living programme came on and we got the viewing figures, we were gobsmacked. And then we had the tour offer come in. And when you have that sort of offer, you can’t turn it down. It’d be ridiculous.
How does it feel to look back on videos like your first “techno line dance” hit, 5, 6, 7, 8 now?
Techno line dance?! Oh my God, that sounds absolutely hideous, but I guess that’s exactly what it was (laughs). Listen – I cringed at the time, never mind now! But we knew what the market was and we did it for a reason. They were costumes, they weren’t clothes you’d wear on the street. We do look back at it and think, oh my gosh, weren’t we young . . .
When Steps formed, Justin Bieber was three years old. Do you still think you have what it takes to compete against young ’uns like him?
We don’t feel like we’re competing. We feel like we’re just revisiting. I don’t feel there’s a competition. People who like our music will buy it, and people who don’t will stay away.
What’s on the Steps tour rider this time around? Has it changed much?
I love this question, because all the stories you hear about J-Lo having her white room and her puppies . . . We know for a fact that it comes out of your own pocket. We were wise to that a long time ago. When we first started, Claire used to make sure she had a bottle of Lambrini in a bucket for when we came off stage. Otherwise, [it was] vodka and cranberry, a few bottles of water and fresh towels. Nothing glamorous, I’m afraid.
What sort of crowds are you expecting on this tour? Nostalgia trippers? Hen parties? Aerobics enthusiasts?
We’ve actually had lots of people who’ve said they’re going to come in fancy dress. Its like going to a Rocky Horror gig: dress up as your favourite member and come on down! We want it to be a buzzy night for everyone, so they can come and sing at the top of their voices and dance and embarrass themselves with another 10,000 people. We’re the ultimate guilty pleasure.
What’s the most surprising thing that people might not know about you? Dappy from N-Dubz once told me he liked carp fishing, you know.
Ooh, that’s hard to compete with. Well . . . I play saxophone. Am I going to play on this tour? No. I did a musical theatre show years ago and they nearly persuaded me but I don’t think it looks attractive to play saxophone on stage. I like to watch men doing it, but I don’t think it’s attractive for girls.
Musos may sneer at Steps’ grin-busting pop, but you sold over 20 million albums in your lifespan. How would you like to be remembered?
All I know is that our music seems to live on, and we’re putting so much effort, energy and money into this tour to make it the best show ever – so I really dare anyone who is a Steps fan not to enjoy this. The people who are critical of us don’t get us, and that’s fine – but I know that this is going to be the biggest and best show that we’ve ever done.
Steps play the O2 on April 3rd – feel free to dress up
